Defecatant and process of making same.



kieselguhr,

WALTER J. WAYTE,

OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

DEFECA'IANT AND PROCESS OF ZMAKING SAME.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914..

Application filed January 9A, 1913. Serial No. 744,010.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J. W'AY'rn, a citizen of the United States, residing in .the city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Defecatants and Processes for Making the Same, of which the following is a specificatlon.

My invention relates to a material Whose principal use is in the defecation of sugar solutions in the manufacture of sugar; an my invention relates also to the process of producing this defecating material.

This material comprises infusorial earth, diatomaceous earth or kieselguhr charged with phosphoric acid P205.

By my invention or material similar thereto as above stated, a dilute solution of phosphoric acid of a specific gravity of 1.1 to a maximum of 1.2, though solutions of less density may be used. A solution of such density is cheaply obtainable, as compared with a concentrated solution of greater specific gravity than 1.2. It is of great importance thata solution of specific gravity of 1.2 or less is of suflicient fluidit to be drawn into all the innermost pores o the kieselguhr by its capacity or afiinity for moisture. I referably use the same weight of the phosp oric acid solution as the weight of the kieselguhr to which it is applied, in each treatment. The

kieselguhr then has a capacity suificient to take up all the moisture without leaving any excess or free surface moisture. I apply the acid solution to the kieselguhr in such quantity that all the moisture is completely taken up by the kieselguhr. The kieselguhr so treated is then heated to drive off this moisture leaving in the pores the hosphoric acid. The kieselguhr can then e treated one or more additional times with similar dilute acid solution, in each case only so much solution being applied as will be completely taken up by t e kieselguhr without leaving external or excess moisture; and after each application of solution the moisture may be driven off by heating1 Or the dilute acid may be applied to the 'eselguhr in a continuous process, as distinguished from the several steps. above described. The result is kieselguhr having throughout its pores and in the innermost pores a filling of I apply to a mass of phosphoric acid which, according to circumstances or desires ranges from say 10% to 40% phosphoric acid. Substantially 25% phosphoric acid is the preferred proport1on in the finished article.

It has heretofore been proposed to apply concentrated phosphoric acid solution of 1.7 to 1.7 specific gravity to kieselguhr. 'Such an acid solution is thick or syrupy and for that reason the kieselguhr cannot, with its afiimty for moisture, raw the viscous solution into all its ores and into the innermost pores. The su se uent dryin results in kieselguhr with aci only partisfily permeatmg its pores and a coating of acid upon the outer surface of the kieselguhr. The result is a product which has a high percentage of phosphoric acid, which is decidedly hygrosco ic with the result that the material read ly a sorbslarge quantities of moisture from the atmosphere or its surroundings making the same past and'with this moisture a sorbed from t e atmosphere, and a large part of the acid being only on the surface of the kiesel hr the external pasty acid attacks metal '0 containers or vessels. With my product however the acid is within the pores of the kieselguhr, in relatively smal er percentage, and is not at all or only slightly hygroscopic; and since the acid is entirely within the ores, whatever moisture is taken u is hel by the kieselguhr, is not free or sur ace moisture, and there being no coating of the acid upon the outside surfaces of the kieseliuhr, there is no attack upon metallic or 0t er containers. q

I have found that whenthe percentage of hosphoric acid is 4.0% or more the product 15 hygroscopic to such an extent as to produce chemical action upon the part of the acid with metallic or other containers. From the foregoing it is apparent that by employing acid solution of s ecific gravity of not more than 1.2, the aci is carried entirely within the pores of the kieselguhr and does not form a coating upon the surface; that acid of such density is far cheaper than concentrated acid; and that my not hygroscopic and will not chemically attack a metallic or other container.

What I claim is: 1. The process of charging kieselguhr with phosphoric acid, WhlCh consists in treating kieselgyhr with a solution of phosproduct is phoric acid of specific gravity not exceeding 1 2 in such quantity that the moisture of said solution is completely taken up by the kieselguhr.

' 2. The process of charging kieselguhrwith phosphoric acid, which consists, in treating kieselguhr with a solution of phosphoric acid of specific gravity not exceeding 1.2 in such quantity that the moisture of said solution is completely taken up by the kieselguhr and driving such moisture ofi' from the kieselguhr.

3. The process of charging kieselguhr with phosphoric acid, which consists in treating a mass of kieselguhr with a solution of phosphoric acid not exceeding 1.2 specific gravity, drivin tion 01f from t e these steps until with phosphoric ceeding 40% of the weight of the kieselguhr.

4. A substantially non-hygroscopic mixture of kieselguhr and phosphoric acid of a weight not exceeding 40% of the Weight of the kiesel uhr.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

' WALTER J. WAYTE.

kieselguhr, and repeating the kieselguhr is charged Witnesses:

N. DUNNING, ALFRED S. RnEvEs.

acid of a weight not exthe moisture of the soluv 

